India is observing purchase of
unmanned air crafts from the United States (US) which can target every square
inch of Pakistan and across its borders as well.
Bloomberg
has acquired a copy of a formal request forwarded by Indian Air Force (IAF) posted
in September. The letter was written to the General Atomics Aeronautical
Systems. If the transaction goes through, India will become one of the first
countries to buy the casually called ‘killing machines’, Predator Avenger
drones.
It
should also be mentioned here that India was the second largest arms importing
country from the US in 2014. Forecasters have termed the Avengers breakthrough
in the region with three nuclearized states an important turn in the strategic
dynamics.
“Within
a few years India has embraced U.S. weapons,” said Siemon Wezeman, a researcher
at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Bloomberg
stated that the Avengers can fly for 18 hours, carry 3,500 pounds of munitions
and reach an altitude of 50,000 feet.
On the
other hand, the General Atomics authorities said that although they are aware
of India’s interest in Avengers however, the country is not a member of Missile
Technology group. The group comprises of as many as 34 members and can trade
modern warfare technologies.
A
recent meeting of the group concluded in October and India was not named a
member.
If and
when India becomes a member of the group it would be not be as easy as it
seems. The State Department would have to get the request approved by the
Congress.
The
Congress has revised its policy towards drones supply to allies. Moreover,
India would be bound to use the Avengers as per the international law. A
similar proposed sale to Italy of another family of drones has seen the said
hindrances after the authorities are willing to go through the transaction.
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